Registry
No.
*
SECURITY CLA. FICATION
Top Secret.
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
DRAFT
CONFIDENTIAL
To:-
Prime Minister
Type 1 +
DSR11
From
Secretary of State
Telephone No. Ext.
Department
...........In Confidence
INDO-CHINA REFUGEES
1.
We discussed this problem in Cabinet on 20 June.
2. One urgent decision is now needed: how to respond to
the suggestion from the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees that, as part of the pledging that he is seeking in
advance of an international conference, Britain should take
a further 10,000 refugees.
3. Mr Hartling clearly did not put forward this figure
lightly. When Peter Blaker saw him in Geneva he stressed
that a figure of this size was indicative of the burden that
the world would have to shoulder if the existing and future
refugee flood was to be absorbed. He also told Peter Blaker
that he aims at completing his international enquiries
within the next few days so that he can report to the UN
Secretary-General by the end of the month. The latest news
from New York suggests that Dr Waldheim is moving quickly to
call a conference.
4.
I think it is important to discuss this with you and
other Ministers concerned before you leave for the Tokyo
summit. We know that President Carter wants to raise the
subject there; a prior declaration from the UK would put you
in a good position. This is important, also, if pressure is
to be brought on Japan to do more.
Dd 108087 400M S&K 1/77
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.